Enjoyable, Well-written and very addictive read. I didn't want to put this down and had me guessing from page to page.

Fast paced story about complex family relationships and healing in the form of a thoroughly enjoyable mystery. Surprisingly uplifting book that I would recommend to YA readers who like a psychological mystery. The important messages about trauma and truth aren't over done and would be relatable for young people.

Superb YA mystery with a killer twist. Yet also poignant and beautifully written. This is my goto thriller for teens this year and will be core stock for a long time yet. Thank you so much for my ARC.

I am always on the look out for new YA books as our students can’t get enough of murder.

This will be a welcome addition to our Library as I particularly enjoyed the focus on the 2 sisters and was intrigued as to how the story would pan out.

Thanks for the opportunity to read.

Thank you for NetGalley, the punisher and author for allowing me early access to this title.

Summary

In this YA mystery novel, sisters Maddy and Grace attended a school residential trip, sadly, only one of them returns home alive.

This story follows a dual POV with both sisters as the events of their residential trip unfold leading up to that night. The surviving sister has no recollection of the events that led to the tragedy of her sister's demise and does everything she can to discover the truth.

Review

"Holy butter on a cheese biscuit!" Is honesty the best words to describe this story. A truly gripping and an heartbreaking novel that had me in a hold.

Silent sister is can be quite a tense read, especially if you're a parent like me. However the title has been written in a very sensitive manner and includes many stages of grief as well as the importance of love, friendship and family.

I felt that it was easy to connect to the characters of Maddy and Grace. Not only that, but Silent Sister also had me guessing and making up my own theories about the mystery in the book from start to finish.

Silent Sister is without a doubt, a book that I will be recommending to many.

A good solid gripping thriller which will appeal to the audience intended and will do well in our library. We will definitely recommend.

Grace and Maddy are away with their classmates for the fabled senior sabbatical, where previous years have said that everything changes after the experience. Maddy's "best friend" appears to have replaced her, going on the previous trip with someone else and leaving Maddy alone on this one, alone in the shadow of her sister Grace - 10 months older, chattier, sportier, cleverer and more popular. This trip is going to change Maddy forever though, because she's decided she's finally going to step out of her sisters' shadow and make some new friends, starting with her allocated roommate Jade. For Maddy's narrative, she begins her story immediately prior and during the senior sabbatical.

Grace's narrative begins immediately after the trip, when she wakes up in hospital with a head wound, no memories and to the news that her sister is missing. The police seem convinced she knows something, she was found covered in her sister's blood after all, but any attempt to remember results in blinding headaches and her classmates appear to be avoiding her. Can she put the pieces together to find out what happened...and does she even want to remember? For all she knows, she could be responsible....

A blindingly good debut novel from #megandavidhizar #silentsister #netgalley

Review also posted to Goodreads but unable to link account.

I love a good ya thriller but this just didn’t do it for me - although I know my students will enjoy it. Written in a dual narrative structure from the point of view of Grace and Maddy, two sisters who are very different. The twist at the end is quite interesting but I must admit that I guessed (for the most part) what was going to happen.

This book is an excellent YA Thriller. It kept me engaged right from the beginning.
I loved the dual POV told from before and after the sabbatical.
I did suspect the twist early on but was only half right. The characters were well written, it was easy to empathise with them, particularly both Maddy & Grace.
I also felt that, even though this is a YA book, it covers some insecurities that are relevant whatever your age. I know I could relate to a lot of them myself.

I’d recommend this to anyone that enjoys YA books or thrillers. It is a fast paced, easy read.

I did enjoy this, I wanted to keep picking it up to find out what happened and it did keep me guessing. I look forward to more of their books

When sisters, Grace and Maddy, attend a school residential, only one of them returns. One if found dead and one has no memory of events. Grace is determined to try and remember what happened to her sister and begins to investigate. As fragments of her memory begin to return, she realises that someone is playing games - but who?
I thoroughly enjoyed this tense YA novel with its hard to spot twist at the end. Loved the charcterisation.

Silent Sister by Megan Davidhizar is a captivating story that deftly explores secrets, family dynamics and personal resilience. From the moment I started reading, I was drawn into the life of the Grace, whose silent struggles and quiet strength make for a compelling and emotional journey.

The plot of Silent Sister is thoughtfully constructed, gradually revealing layers of mystery and emotional depth. Davidhizar's storytelling is engaging, keeping me hooked throughout.

The characters in Silent Sister are well-developed and relatable. Grace, in particular, is a standout, portrayed with nuance and authenticity. Her journey of self discovery and healing is both moving and inspiring. The supporting characters also add to the story, each contributing to Grace's growth and the unraveling of the central mystery.

Davidhizar's writing is evocative and clear, making it easy to immerse myself in the story. Her descriptions are vivid without being overly detailed, striking a good balance that enhances the narrative without slowing it down.

I highly recommend Silent Sister to anyone looking for a novel that combines mystery, emotional depth, and a powerful exploration of personal growth

A teen, YA and equally adult story. An end of year school trip. But Grace has no memory of what happened, her sister is missing. Where is she, who was involved. This story takes you and pulls your emotions into the maelstrom of a teenagers life as she struggles to remember . She searches for answers. Struggles to know who to trust. Struggles to survive. There’s lots to keep you guessing. Thank you to Harper Collins UK, Children’s and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

The premise was intriguing enough but this moved too slowly for me. It also bore similarities to another book I read about secrets coming out at a high school seniors' retreat - which didn't do it for me either. I made it about 40% of the way through but didn't have the motivation to keep going. DNF. I appreciate that I am not the target readership but I do read lots of YA fiction and this wasn't for me.
Grateful to HarperCollins Children's and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

A moving and engaging read that keeps you on your toes. What happened to sisters Mandy and Grace at school camp? One is missing and the other has been found battered and bruised with no memory of the trip. As Grace recovers in hospital she is desperate to find out who hurt them and how she survived, which intensifies once Maddy's body is discovered. Since none of their friends from the trip are speaking to her, Grace must piece together the fragments from social media and overheard conversations. Everyone is suspected, including Grace and the truth is hard and tragic and heartbreaking.

This was a very emotive read for me, the blurb sounded really interesting and I could not wait to delve into it.

Very well laid out and written by author Megan Davidhizar, this will keep readers enthralled well into the evening.

We meet sisters Maddie and Grace, very much like many sisters in that they are completely different to each other. Maddie is quiet and reserved and Grace is the polar opposite.

When they go on a school trip they go missing and only Grace is found with her sister's blood on her clothing. Wow this was just an incredible read, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Silent Sisters and how each character was amazingly well researched.

Grace needs to know what has happened to Maddie so she sets out to uncover the truth.

Really well presented, this is a great novel for 2024.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for allowing me a ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A super powerful YA story that touches upon so many topics that are experienced by young people today. Awesome!

I was completely captivated by this story right from the opening page! Every character, plot twist, and especially the major revelation at the end, kept me utterly engaged from start to finish.

One of the standout themes in this story is the exploration of sibling conflicts, portrayed vividly as relationships and friendships evolve amidst rumours and speculations. The dynamics between the characters are deeply nuanced, showcasing how misunderstandings and secrets can profoundly impact those closest to us.

Additionally, the narrative skillfully delves into the theme of grief and its transformative effect on one's perception of reality. As the characters grapple with the loss of loved ones, they navigate through layers of emotional turmoil, challenging their beliefs and reshaping their understanding of the world around them.

Overall, this novel is a masterful blend of suspense, complex relationships, and profound reflections on grief. It's a testament to the author's ability to craft a gripping story that resonates on multiple levels, leaving readers enthralled and contemplating its themes long after the final page.

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This YA thriller is one that I think will appeal to a YA audience with the twist. Grace and Maddy are sisters on a Senior Sabbatical - a week away from school. Two very different personalities, Grace is outgoing and popular while Maddy is very insecure in herself. She finds it difficult to make small talk, never knows what to say and always stands on the outside looking in. In a way she is envious of her sister, of the way that everyone warms to her. At the sabbatical, Grace is found bloodied and bruised outside of the lodge while Maddy is no where to be found and she has no memory of the previous week, no memory of what has happened to Maddy. Rumours and suspicions fly and with Maddy's blood being found on her, Grace finds herself suspected by the police. But maybe her class mates on the sabbatical know more, maybe they have information that will reveal the truth. This is a story told in two voices - Maddy's from the start of the sabbatical and Grace's from when she is found. For me, I found that the pranks, the relationships between the group were believable. However, maybe because I am so much older than the intended audience, I did find this a little slow placed and I did guess the twist early on. However, it will definitely work for a YA reader. Rounded up to 4*

A big thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of Silent Sister!

I was absolutely enthralled with this story from the very first page! Every single character, plot point and the very big plot twist at the end, kept me hooked from beginning to end!

The exploration of sibling conflicts as well as how relationships and friendships change due to rumors and speculations were very prominent themes throughout this story, as well as how grief can change your concept of reality as you come to terms with losing loved ones.

I would rate this 6 stars if I could! Absolutely amazing!